Quentin Blake / 昆丁布雷克

安得烈法朗史瓦繪 / painted by Andre Francois

十一月初得知昆丁布雷克會出現在法國文化協會舉辦的南肯辛頓兒童節慶時，我立刻訂了票，昆丁和大衛麥奇─彩色拼貼象艾默的作者，討論法籍匈牙利裔畫家安得烈法朗史瓦。當時還想了要做什麼特別的禮物送給昆丁，我的腦海中充滿瑰麗的想法。

In early November when I learned that Quentin Blake would appear in the South Ken Kids' Festival hosted by Institut francais, I booked right away the ticket for his speech with David McKee, the author and illustrator of Elmer the patchwork Elephant. Then I was full of all sorts of fantastic ideas on what present I could make for Quentin.

誰知這幾個星期內我除了準備功課，根本沒有多餘的時間，所以我拖到今天早上很努力地把握時間做了一張卡片，主題是有關我夏天去明池看到的一棵樹，讓我想到昆丁的一本書─綠色的船。

However, only God knew that during the past three weeks, apart from preparing for the Romeo and Juliet project, I didn't have any spare time for even doodling. I didn't start making a card for Quentin until this morning. The theme is about a tree that I saw in Min-che this past summer. It reminded me of Quentin's book The Green Ship.

昆丁是我的偶像，不過還有另一個很重要的原因，下學期的作業是要去訪問四個業界的人士，我很想要訪問昆丁，所以把我的意圖寫在最後。

Quentin is my idol, but another important reason is that next term we have to interview four practitioners. I want very much to interview him, so I wrote my intention at the end of the letter.

因為座位的關係，我拍照無法拍到大衛先生，不是我故意忽略他。我也非常喜歡今天的主題畫家，兩位講者都說到，法朗史瓦教他們的是如何奔放地畫畫，他的畫有種無懼的特質，對他而言畫圖是呈現主題的感覺，而非比例的精準，他的插畫雖然常出現在雜誌和海報，卻有純美術的風格。我在這個點聽到這些話很適合，因為最近我放不太開，對自己也沒有信心，聽到另一派隨感覺畫圖的人，讓我再度想起自在是很重要的。昆丁和大衛都是比較偏想像畫風的插畫家，所以像大衛雖然有畫速寫的習慣，他說速寫的內容不會直接出現在他的創作當中。

Because of my seat, I couldn't include David in my photo, not that I ignored him on purpose. I also love the discussed artist Andre Francois. Both illustrators mentioned that Francois taught them a license of freedom. There's something fearless about his works. For him, painting is more about presenting how something feels rather than the anatomy. Though his illustrations appeared often in magazines and posters, there is a fine art quality in his works. It was really the right time for me to hear these words. Lately I have had problems letting go, and I haven't had much confidence in myself either. Hearing that some artists paint how they feel, I recalled the importance of feeling at ease when drawing. Quentin and David are both more into imaginary drawings. David said that he keeps the habit of drawing in sketchbooks, but his sketches don't appear directly in his works. 

大衛麥奇手繪信封 / envelope drawn by David McKee 

排對等簽書時，前面的媽媽和小男孩是我班上同學潔絲的家人（或朋友），媽媽很認真地拿出小男孩要送給昆丁的畫，我暗自高興這樣我等一下的行為就不會太突兀，小男孩想當插畫家，媽媽替他問要怎樣才能當，昆丁說：你要每天畫畫，如果你喜歡的話。這整個場面真的很可愛，昆丁是英國插畫界的教父，可是整個人看起來很樸實，不認得他的人大概會覺得他就是個普通的老先生，可是他不只如此。

While I was waiting in queue to get my book autographed, the mother and the son in front of me are either family or friends of my classmate Jess. The mother took out a drawing done by the little boy, which was meant as a gift for Quentin. I was secretly glad that he helped me pave my road so that I wouldn't appear weird in doing something similar later. The mother said the little boy would like to be an illustrator, and she asked for him how he could achieve that. Quentin replied, "You have to draw every day, if you like it." The whole scene was very lovely. Quentin is the godfather in the British illustration industry, but he looks very down-to-earth. For people who can't recognize him, he is no more than an ordinary old gentleman, but of course he is more than that. 

輪到我時，我趕緊送上卡片，他立刻打開信封來看，我和他解釋我看到那棵樹時馬上想到他的書，我說我是坎貝爾的插畫系學生，我要謝謝他總是激勵我，他說他現在沒教書了，對坎貝爾比較不熟，我說畫圖比較好玩啦！我很高興他沒有翻到最後看我的文字，和他見面之後，突然覺得這樣就夠了，最後沒有訪問到他也沒關係，因為我已經在倫敦，見到我最喜歡的插畫家了。

When my turn came, I gave Quentin the card immediately, and he opened it for a look. I explained to him that his book came to mind when I saw the tree. I told him that I am an illustration major in Camberwell. I also want to thank him for inspiring me. He said that he isn't teaching now. He used to know Camberwell better. I went on to say that it's more fun to draw than to teach. I was glad that he didn't read my words on the back of the card. After meeting him in person, I suddenly felt that it was more than enough, even if I didn't get to interview him next term. After all, I am in London and I have met my favorite illustrator! 

走去V&A博物館的路上，從地下道走進自然歷史博物館的門前廣場，有個很特別的驚喜，是閃亮的旋轉木馬在冷冷的冬日裡起舞著！這就像倫敦生活在我人生裡的意義，不管以後我會不會在插畫方面有什麼發展，至少我盡力了，也非常幸運，雖然接下來可能還有數十年的日子，我沒有任何的遺憾了。

On my way to V&A Museum, I climbed from the tunnel to the square in front of Natural History Museum. An amazing surprise was waiting for me--the shiny carousel spinning on a cold winter day! It is what days in London mean to me in my life. Whether I'll make it or not in illustration, at least I've done my best and I am also blessed. Though I am only halfway through life, I can say I have no regret...